‘Keeping the focus where it matters’– FIGO responds to 2017’s women’shealth challenges

In ter nat iona l Federat ion of Gynecology and Obstet r ics | May 2017 1

International Federation ofGynecology and ObstetricsFFIIGGOOFIGOcommunications@figo.orgwww.figo.org May 2017

management of prolapse. I then travelled to Delhito highlight the need for prophylaxis and an ‘earlydetection of cancer’ service in the under-developed world, and also the need for FIGO-affiliated societies to sensitise governments tohelp prevent needless deaths.

Directly after, I spent five days in Rio de Janeiro,with FIGO representatives and the local BrazilianSociety Organising Committee, to accomplish‘spade work’ for the October 2018 FIGOCongress. Initial arrangements were fully

discussed – it promises to be a superb Congressin great surroundings. Rio – having held theOlympics – is a truly changed city, ready towelcome 10,000-plus FIGO delegates and theirfamilies.

2017 began with the contemplation of freshideas for meeting the needs of women’s health.

At the end of January, I attended the All IndiaCongress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AICOG)in Ahmadabad, India, which boasted an

FIGO launches Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy (HIP) European Declaration at Barcelona’s DIP Congress | Meet the new PPIUD Initiative Deputy Director | New collaborations with WFSA and WES

| Latest developments from FIGO’s Publications and IJGO Editorial Board INSIDE:

Dear ColleaguesThe last month of 2016, enjoying Christmasfestivities, was comparatively relaxing comparedto the briskness of early 2017! The new year haspresented us with more great opportunities, andfresh challenges, with an ever-changing globalscene in women’s health.

In early December, I attended the Federation ofObstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India’s(FOGSI) urogynecology conference inauguration,and gave a keynote address on the conservative continued on page 2

FIGO Officers’ Meeting, February 2017 (L–R): Honorary Secretary Professor Gian Carlo Di Renzo (Italy); Honorary Treasurer Dr Ralph Hale (USA); President Professor Chittaranjan NarahariPurandare (India); Vice President Professor Seija Grenman (Finland); President-Elect Dr Carlos Füchtner (Bolivia); Dr Yirgu Gebrehiwot Ferede (Ethiopia); and the Chief Executive, Johan Vos(ex-officio)

With PastPresidentProfessor JackSciarra in Rome

Chief Guest at the 13th NationalCongress ofNESOG, April 2017

‘Keeping the focus where it matters’ –FIGO responds to 2017’s women’s health challengescontinued from page 1

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attendance of over 10,000 delegates. FIGO hada very large presence there, with pre-congressworkshops, keynote addresses and a FIGOsession. I am honoured to have been awardedthe ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award at theinauguration. It is truly a moment of greatsatisfaction when your own parent bodyacknowledges your efforts and work.

The FIGO Officers met in London at thebeginning of February to take stock of progressand look at the future activities of FIGO. I ampleased to report there was much fruitfuldeliberation.

Also that month, the International Journal ofGynecology and Obstetrics (IJGO) held its annualeditorial meeting; the FIGO PublicationsManagement Board meeting also took place. Theyear’s work, under the excellent leadership ofProfessor Richard Adanu, was analysed, and heexpertly guided the new Board, welcoming somerenowned additions to its team.

In March I attended the 9th International DIPSymposium on Diabetes, Hypertension,Metabolic Syndrome & Pregnancy in Barcelona

Lunch with Dr (Mrs) Nisandand President Israel

Nisand of the FrenchCollege

International Academy ofHuman Reproduction inRome, March 2017

where, in the presence of Catalonia’s Minister ofHealth, I signed the HIP (Hyperglycemia inPregnancy) Barcelona Declaration in a colourfulceremony. This highlights FIGO's unstintingefforts – under the dynamic energies of ProfessorMoshe Hod, FIGO HIP Working Group Chair – toencourage awareness about hyperglycemia inpregnancy. This issue is not only taking a heavytoll on mother and child today, but will do so wellinto future generations, all over the world,especially in South East Asia and China.

My next visit was to Paris to visit the President ofthe French College of Gynaecologists andObstetricians, to discuss the College’s efforts inthe French-speaking countries of Africa. Over aconvivial lunch meeting, we looked at the waysand means of reducing maternal mortality,including the use of effective contraceptionstrategies to help with this.

I then travelled to Rome to attend a meeting ofthe International Academy of HumanReproduction. FIGO’s efforts to highlight theissue of infertility as a serious global healthproblem were presented.

The Nepal society held its annual congress in thecolourful city of Kathmandu in the first week ofApril, with over 800 delegates in attendance. AFIGO session on postpartum intrauterinecontraceptive devices was greatly appreciated.

The FIGO Working Group on Contraception helda meeting in London in April to take stock ofcurrent challenging times in this area, and tobrainstorm solutions that FIGO can offer towomen in need.

There is never a dull moment for an organisationof FIGO's size and repute – there is a constantcommitment by colleagues to work for thebetterment of women's health and human rights.

The effort continues.

Best wishes

Professor C N PurandareFIGO President2015–2018

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Receiving the AICOG ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award

Inter nat iona l Federat ion of Gynecology and Obstet r ics | May 2017

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S UPDATE

In ter nat iona l Federat ion of Gynecology and Obstet r ics | May 2017 3

from FIGO. A membership survey was recentlysent to Societies, Committee and Working GroupChairs and Executive Board members to solicitopinions on a number of issues. As amembership organisation we are all ‘family’, and,as such, FIGO needs to understand and betterrespond to our members’ needs.

As FIGO embarks on a new and excitingdirection, it needs to communicate moreeffectively. There is so much excellent work beingdone by our Committees and Working Groups,with support from dedicated staff, but furtherinvestment to strengthen our communicationswill be made. FIGO is also looking to diversify itsprojects, and this includes developing a range ofeducational offerings. I am very pleased toannounce that the owners of the Global Libraryof Women’s Medicine (www.glowm.com),David and Paula Bloomer, have offered FIGO theopportunity to bring this educational platformunder the FIGO umbrella. Over the comingmonths FIGO will integrate this further,complementing other resources such as FIGO’sown journal, the International Journal ofGynecology and Obstetrics (IJGO).

At the start of my professional career, I made acommitment to myself: make the biggestdifference to the largest group of people. I feelprivileged to work with so many dedicated FIGOleaders and committed staff to help the manywomen, children and adolescents around theworld who need support. The challenge is hugebut, as a strong ‘family’, we will eventually claimvictory!

Best wishes

Johan VosFIGO Chief Executive

FIGO HouseWaterloo Court, 10 Theed StreetLondon SE1 8ST, UKTel: +44 20 7928 1166Fax: +44 20 7928 7099Email: figo@figo.org

The International Federation of Gynecology andObstetrics is a UK Registered Charity (No 1113263;Company No 5498067) registered in England andWales. The Registered Office is shown above.

Administrative Director:Sean O’Donnell

FIGO Officers:

President:Professor Chittaranjan Narahari Purandare (India)

President-Elect:Dr Carlos Füchtner (Bolivia)

Vice President:Professor Seija Grenman (Finland)

Honorary Secretary:Professor Gian Carlo Di Renzo (Italy)

Honorary Treasurer:Dr Ralph Hale (USA)

Dr Yirgu Gebrehiwot Ferede (Ethiopia)

Chief Executive:Johan Vos

Readers are invited to refer items for consideration byemail to communications@figo.org no later thanFriday 16 June 2017 for the next issue.

The views expressed in articles in the FIGO Newsletterare those of the authors and do not necessarily reflectthe official viewpoint of FIGO.

Produced and edited by Alexandra Gilpin at the FIGOSecretariat © FIGO 2017.

International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Dear Colleagues and Friends

The New Year started with a smell of fresh paint!

This followed a renovation that included not onlythat fresh coat of paint, but also new lighting andnew heating equipment throughout our threestorey building. FIGO is very fortunate to own itsown property – investing in making this adynamic and enjoyable working environment isvery important, not just for staff, but also for themany Committees and Working Groups that useFIGO House for meetings and gatherings. FIGOHQ belongs to all, and everyone is welcome tocome and use its facilities.

On the meeting theme, FIGO is working on itslargest gathering ever, when the triennial FIGOWorld Congress comes to the vibrant andexciting city of Rio de Janeiro from 14–19October 2018. Together with FIGO’s BrazilianMember Society, FEBRASGO, we are working tomake this the best FIGO World Congress ever,with a cutting-edge scientific programme, and anentertaining social programme that will show thevery best that Brazil has to offer. The Congresswill not only appeal to gynecologists andobstetricians, but also to midwives, nurses,policy makers, government officials and healthleaders. Speakers will include leading scientistsand clinicians, along with prominent opinionleaders, policy makers and, most importantly,women speaking from first-hand experience. To

A new direction for FIGO!

receive regular updates, register your interest atwww.FIGO2018.org and save the dates!

As your new Chief Executive, I feel privileged torepresent the profession and women’s health ingeneral. Having worked for a number ofinternational membership federations, I know andunderstand the importance of membership andhow to add value. As FIGO develops a newStrategic Plan, the Officers and I want to hearMember Societies’ thoughts on what they thinkneeds to happen and what support is required

London hosts FIGO Executive Board 2017The 2017 FIGO Executive Board meeting was hosted by FIGO’s UK Member Society, the RoyalCollege of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), in London, on 12–13 May 2017.

The annual meeting enables FIGO’s elected Officers and Executive Board members to cometogether to take clear decisions on important matters affecting the running of the organisation. TheBoard meets at least once every year, is elected by free vote at the General Assembly, and itsmembers comprise representatives of 24 national societies and the six Officers.

Johan Vos said: ‘This was my first Executive Board meeting, and the first opportunity I have had tomeet directly with all Executive Board Member Societies at one time. The meeting was hugelyproductive, and paves the way for a new era of FIGO activity which will be reported on in duecourse.

‘Additionally, I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the College for its superb organisationand hospitality – I know it was greatly appreciated by our global family.’

Meeting with the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam (February 2017)L–R: Professor Dr Jan van Lith, President, Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Johan Vos, FIGO Chief Executive; Dr Guid Oei, Past President, Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Executive Board 2017

4 In ter nat iona l Federat ion of Gynecology and Obstet r ics | May 2017

2016 was a year filled with excitingdevelopments for IJGO, the official publicationof FIGO. In a major change, IJGO announced inJuly that, from 2017, it would have a newpublishing partner and would begin workingwith Wiley. Work began in earnest on thetransition, which has involved an excitingreader-friendly update to the layout of all IJGOarticles, a new website within Wiley’s

IJGO Editorial Board meeting 2017

Obstetrics and Gynaecology hub(http://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1879-3479/), and arefined online submission system. Alongsidethese exciting developments, IJGO hasrecently launched its new mobile app for iOSand Android devices; the new app providesnotifications when each new issue is publishedand allows downloading of articles for offlineviewing.

Members of the IJGO Editorial Board were inLondon recently for the journal’s annual editorialmeeting. At the meeting, IJGO had anopportunity to welcome Dr Elizabeth Stringer, Dr Paul Fogarty and Dr Michael Geary as newmembers, and to bid a fond farewell to thoserotating off the board after several years ofdedicated service. Board members wereupdated on IJGO’s busy and productive 2016;the journal processed 1,340 submissions fromaround the world and published more than 350articles over 12 issues. The journal also reportedan increase in impact factor to 1.674, testamentto the vital contributions of IJGO’s staff, editorialboard, authors and reviewers.

At the meeting, the board was updated on therapid progress of IJGO’s social media accounts.Expanded social media activity has resulted ingreat increases in the number of peopleengaging with IJGO online, and the journal hasbeen delighted to launch its own YouTubechannel to host video content submitted.

Last year, the journal published twosupplements: ‘Reducing maternal mortality bypreventing unsafe abortion: The Uruguayan

experience’, guest edited by Dr Anibal Faúndes,and ‘Maternal and Neonatal Health in Africa atMDG End: Availability of and Access to MaternalHealth Services, and Outcomes of InterventionStrategies’, edited by Professor Seni Kouanda,Dr Rita Kabra and Dr Alexandre Dumont. IJGOwas also pleased to publish a themed issue onchallenges posed by violence against women;the themed content in the April 2016 issue wasaccompanied by a Special Editorial written byProfessor Rachel Jewkes.

Taking stock – IJGO reviews a whirlwind year and its plans for 2017

FIGO NEWS

Post-Partum IUD teamwelcomes Dr AnitaMakins!FIGO is very happy to confirm the additionof Dr Anita Makins as Deputy Director ofthe FIGO PPIUD Initiative.

Dr Anita Makins

Anita is an obstetrician and gynecologist witha Masters in Public Health. Born in Brazil andtrained in the UK, she has 17 years’experience in global women’s health. As aconsultant in the UK, she was lead forDiabetes in Pregnancy at Oxford University’srenowned teaching hospital, the JohnRadcliffe. In low-resource countries she hasworked for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)in Sierra Leone in emergency services andfistula surgery. In Mozambique she ran amaternal health project for the Swiss NGOSolidarMed, working in partnership with thegovernment to reduce maternal morbidityand mortality in the region.

She is delighted to take up the post ofDeputy Director of the PPIUD initiative and islooking forward to taking the initiative into thefinal year of its 2nd phase. ‘Throughout myentire career I have worked towards helpingreduce maternal mortality. Institutionalisingthe use of post-partum IUDs has thepotential to have enormous impact in the sixcountries in which we are working. These arevery exciting times!’

FIGO HQ steps up to ‘Cross Cultural’ training!On 30 March 2017, FIGO staff members were treated to a unique training experience, heldoffsite in London – with much audience participation! – to help them ‘understand the keycultural challenges of the cultures represented by their colleagues and clients, and developintercultural skills to build more effective business relationships across cultural boundaries’.

Feedback on the course was highlypositive. Johan Vos commented: ‘Iknow staff have benefited hugely fromthis learning experience. As a globalbody, it is so essential that weunderstand the impact of culture onwork behaviours, and identify culturallyappropriate responses. It was great tobe able to learn how to adapt ourcommunication styles to be culturallyeffective across all our work.’

Light entertainment was provided byFIGO’s very own residentsinger/musician, Adedire Pitan, FinanceCo-ordinator – a man of incredibletalent, his vocal dexterity certainlymatches his number crunching!Staff enjoying a musical interlude between course segments

Two Editors Emeritus – Professor Timothy Johnson andProfessor John J Sciarra – at the meeting

Information courtesy of IJGO

5In ter nat iona l Federat ion of Gynecology and Obstet r ics | May 2017

FIGO sets out its stall atRCOG Congress 2017In late March 2017, FIGO project teams and IJGO staff attended the Royal College of Obstetriciansand Gynaecologists’ Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.

Traffic was brisk to the FIGO booth – this provided an excellent opportunity to educate visitors on thebreadth of FIGO’s work on fistula and the FIGO Post Partum IUD Initiative.

L–R: Professor Ajay Rane, Chair of the FIGO Fistula andGenital Trauma Committee; Dr Andrew Browning, FistulaSurgeon; Dr Anthony Wanjala, one of the FIGO KenyanFellows; Gillian Slinger, Project Manager, FIGO FistulaSurgery Training Initiative

Spreading the IJGO word: Professor Oladosu Ojengbede,President of ISOFS (the International Society of ObstetricFistula Surgeons)

L–R: Gillian Slinger; Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran,FIGO Past President; Antonia Glanfield; and Dr AnitaMakins, FIGO PPIUD Initiative Deputy Director

Antonia Glanfield, IJGO Editorial Assistant, holding the fort

FIGO NEWS

Another landmark occasion for FIGO’s HIP Working Group!The second regional declaration on Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy (HIP)has been signed, this time in Europe, establishing a consensusplatform from which to advocate within the region.

The signing of this joint FIGO, European Board & College of Obstetricsand Gynaecology and European Association of Perinatal Medicinedeclaration took place at the biennial Diabetes in Pregnancy (DIP)symposium held in Barcelona, Spain, in March.

The HIP Working Group held their meeting during this event, whichincluded a fruitful discussion on progress made and plans for the year,including further regional declarations, publications, dissemination andimplementation of the FIGO guidelines on GDM: seehttps://tinyurl.com/m879wlc.

The FIGO Adolescent, Preconception and Maternal Nutrition (APMN)Working Group also held a meeting in order to work on a range ofresources which will be available later this year to support disseminationand implementation of their 2015 recommendations’ publication.

The declaration provides a call to action to address the link betweenmaternal health and diabetes as a public health priority. Building on fromthe South Asian declaration which was signed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, inSeptember 2016, the group hopes to have declarations from all FIGOregions by the end of 2018.

The DIP symposium was a very successful event and provided a greatopportunity for a number of speakers from FIGO’s perinatal Committeesand Working Groups to present on their work. There was also a dedicatedFIGO Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy/Nutrition postgraduate course prior tothe main conference.

With a range of different FIGO Working Group and Committee memberspresent, DIP provided an invaluable opportunity to connect the Chairs ofseveral FIGO perinatal groups to discuss areas for collaboration. Therewas agreement to work more closely together on certain issues in order toshare networks, strengthen outputs, and avoid duplication. Watch thisspace!

The HIP and APMN webpages have had a makeover! Why not pay a visitto see what else they have been doing recently?

HIP: www.figo.org/working-group-hyperglycemia-pregnancyAPMN: www.figo.org/working-group-adolescent-pre-conception-and-maternal-nutritionInformation courtesy of Jessica Morris, FIGO Project Manager

President Professor Purandare (right) with Chief Executive Johan Vos at the signing

Professor Moshe Hod, Chair of the FIGO HIP Working Group, opening the signingceremony

6 In ter nat iona l Federat ion of Gynecology and Obstet r ics | May 2017

NEW COLLABORATIONS

The World Endometriosis Society (WES) isdelighted to collaborate officially with FIGO toimprove women’s health issues, andendometriosis in particular.

‘Up to 10 per cent of premenopausal women andteenagers globally have endometriosis, a disorderthat causes pelvic pain and infertility and markedlycompromises quality of life. Partnering with FIGOto increase awareness, advocacy, clinical carestandards and research for this disease is a greatopportunity to make a difference in the lives ofthose affected,’ said Linda C. Giudice, MD, PhD,President of WES.

WES is committed toadvancing evidence-based standards andinnovations foreducation, advocacy,clinical care andresearch inendometriosis andrelated disorders, incollaboration with itsstakeholders and globalpartners to improve thelives of all affectedwomen and theirfamilies.

‘With endometriosis we are dealing with a significant personal and societal burden, including a >7 year diagnostic delay due to the normalisation of the symptoms,’ said WES Chief Executive,Lone Hummelshoj, a well-known advocate inendometriosis. This was also highlighted recentlyin the UK’s Women’s Health All PartyParliamentary Group’s report on how poorlymany women with endometriosis are treated.Hummelshoj – together with WES President Elect,

Neil Johnson, MD – hasconvened globalconsensus workshopssince 2011, involvingrepresentatives of 29national andinternational, medicaland non-medicalorganisations from arange of disciplines,including FIGO. So far,consensuses havebeen reached on the‘current managementof endometriosis’, the‘classification of

endometriosis’, and the ‘diagnosis ofendometriosis’. The next consensus initiative willaddress ‘patient-centred outcomes inendometriosis’ and will be held in connection withthe 13th World Congress on Endometriosis inVancouver from 17–20 May 2017.‘WES is about inclusivity and global collaboration,’said Johnson, a professor of reproductive healthat the Robinson Research Institute, University ofAdelaide. He emphasises that WES has beenleading workshops on research priorities since2008, involving investigators from across theglobe. Importantly these priorities also place focuson what is achievable in low-resource settings.‘An important outcome of these researchpriorities’ workshops has been the development ofthe World Endometriosis Research Foundation’sEPHect tools, which standardise the collection ofclinical and surgical data and incorporate standardoperating procedures for the collection ofbiospecimens,’ said Johnson. This ground-breaking initiative paves the way for collaborativeand comparative research, which – with time –will, hopefully, lead to targeted diagnostic andtreatment discovery in endometriosis.’Information and photos courtesy of WESwww.endometriosis.caFor additional information on the EPHect toolswww.endometriosisfoundation.org/ephect/

The World Federation of Societies ofAnaesthesiologists (WFSA) seeks to ensureuniversal access to safe anaesthesia and uniteshundreds of thousands of anaesthesiologistsbehind this goal. With a focus on patient care,we deliver our mission by working together onprogrammes that tackle the barriers to safe andtimely access to anaesthesia care.

Anaesthesia is adistinct and essentialpart of the operatingroom, ensuringpatients make itthrough the proceduresafely and withoutfeeling pain.Anaesthesiologists arevital in ensuring apatient’s safety aftersurgery, too. They alsoprovide resuscitationand stabilisation of patients in

the Emergency Department and, in the IntensiveCare Unit, they provide pain relief for women inlabour, transport acutely ill and injured patients,plus much more. In high-income settings,

anaesthesiologists might typically come intocontact with two thirds of all hospital patients.

In low- and middle-income countries, highmortality rates in relation to surgical care areoften related to a lack of infrastructure,equipment, monitoring and drugs, as well as ashortage of trained personnel. These are allglobal health challenges that must be addressed.

Our programmes are run in partnership withMember Societies of Anaesthesiology and otherorganisations that share our objectives. We haveofficial liaison with the World Health Organization(WHO), are a founding member of the G4Alliance, and also work with governments, otherlegislative bodies, surgical organisations, NGOs,hospitals and training centres.

Our impact is felt globally. Educationprogrammes in Africa, Asia, Europe and LatinAmerica train thousands of anaesthesiologistsevery year; our publications are accessed byanaesthesia providers working across high-resource and low-resource settings, and ouradvocacy work brings key issues to the WorldHealth Assembly and other global decision-making fora.

We are proud of over 60 years of working as aFederation and, together with our partners andmembers, we have done much to achieve ouraims – however, with five billion people lackingaccess to safe and affordable anaesthesia andsurgical care when needed, there is a long wayto go.

FIGO and WHO joinforces for familyplanning workshopsFIGO is currently collaborating with WHOon the introduction and dissemination ofkey WHO family planning guidelines andderivative tools – this is being achieved byholding workshops and cascading trainingfrom WHO to members of FIGO MemberSocieties. One such workshop took placerecently with the active involvement of theSociety of Gynaecology and Obstetrics ofNigeria (SOGON).

Dr Chris Agboghoroma, WorkshopFacilitator, commented: ‘The workshop washighly successful – close to 70 professionalsattended, including most SOGON Councilmembers representing most of the states inthe country. The majority of participants wereextremely satisfied with the workshopcontent and expressed an interest to trainothers. It was a most valuable experience.’

The workshop facilitators during the recent SOGONConference in Akure, Nigeria; L–R: Professor JMutihir; Professor A Adekunle; and Dr CAgboghoroma

Julian Gore-Booth, CEO

Working with FIGOJulian Gore-Booth, WFSA Chief Executive Officer,said: ‘Mutual sharing and collaboration betweenthe WFSA and FIGO will be extremely beneficialto obstetricians, gynecologists,anaesthesiologists and their patients. Bothorganisations are deeply committed to improvingmother and child health around the world, andwith 300,000 mothers dying every year duringchildbirth, the challenges we face and the impactwe can make are significant.’

As the WFSA works to advance the crucial roleof anaesthesia as a component of universalhealth coverage around the world, it is vital tohave strong partners such as FIGO to ensure ajoined-up, multi-disciplinary approach to healthsystems’ strengthening.

Information and photos courtesy of WFSAwww.wfsahq.org

Linda C. Giudice, WES President

Lone Hummelshoj, WES Chief Executive

FIGO has recently signed new Memorandums of Understanding with the World EndometriosisSociety and the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists.

7In ter nat iona l Federat ion of Gynecology and Obstet r ics | May 2017

Save the Dates! FIGO takes high profile at 2017 ICM Congress

Diary Dates11th European Congress on Menopauseand Andropause22–24 May 2017, Amsterdam, Hollandwww.emas-online.org/home2017

14th European Congress of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecologists 2017(EURAPAG 2017)7–10 June 2017, Vilnius, Lithuaniawww.eurapag2017.eu

25th Asian & Oceanic Congress ofObstetrics and Gynaecology (AOCOG)15–18 June 2017, Hong Kongwww.aocog2017.com

ICM World Congress18–22 June 2017, Toronto, Canadawww.midwives2017.org

Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologistsof Canada 73rd Annual Clinical Meeting20–23 June 2017, Ottawa, Canadawww.sogc.org/conference/acsc/welcome.html

42nd Annual Meeting of the InternationalUrogynecological Association (IUGA)20–24 June 2017, Vancouver, Canadawww.iugameeting.orgSwiss Society of Obstetrics and GynaecologyAnnual Congress 201728–30 June 2017, Beaulieu Lausanne,Switzerlandwww.sggg-kongress.chEuropean Society of Human Reproductionand Embryology 33rd Annual Meeting 2017(ESHRE 2017)2–5 July 2017, Switzerland, Genevawww.eshre2017.euBritish Menopause Society 27th Annual Conference 2017 (BMS 2017)6–7 July 2017, Kenilworth, UKwww.thebms.org.uk/meeting/bms-27th-annual-conference

21st International Conference on PrenatalDiagnosis and Therapy 2017 (ISPD 2017)9–12 July 2017, San Diego, Californiawww.ispdhome.org/ISPD2017FIGO-FOGSI Conference3–6 August 2017, Hyderabad, Indiawww.fogsi.org/events/fogsi-figo-2017-international-congress-on-clinical-challenges-in-obstetrics-gynaecology(conference website tbc)

Swedish Society of Obstetrics andGynecology Conference28–31 August 2017, Stockholm, Swedenwww.sfogveckan.se13th Asia Pacific Congress in MaternalFetal Medicine 2017 (APCMFM 2017)1–3 September 2017, New Delhi, Indiawww.obg.cuhk.edu.hk/apcmfm/apcmfm-2017

Spreading the wordabout EssentialInterventionsThe Nepal Society of Obstetricians andGynecologists (NESOG), the NepalPediatric Society (NEPAS) and theMidwifery Society of Nepal (MIDSON)recently came together to disseminate theresearch findings of the FIGO EssentialInterventions project in Nepal.

It was the first joint initiative to haveformalised the systems and structure for jointworking between obstetricians,paediatricians and midwives to improve thequality of care for mothers and babies. Thestudy provides preliminary information on theeffects and effectiveness of the multifacetedinterventions and the impact of joint workingon the use of Essential Interventions.

The January dissemination in Kathmanduwas evaluated positively, with a great deal ofinterest in the project from stakeholders. Itwas attended by 120 delegates representingthe three professional associations – FIGO,ICM and IPA – two facilities, the FamilyHealth Division of the Ministry of Health andother NGOs and INGOs.

Dr Rolina Dhital, National Co-ordinator for theJoint Initiative, said: ‘The Joint Initiative hasbeen a catalyst to empower and bringtogether all three professional groups. Therehas been interest from other professionals –anaesthetists and academics, for example –to contribute to the professionaldevelopment within the facilities.’

FIGO enjoys a close relationship with theInternational Confederation of Midwives (ICM).The upcoming 31st ICM Triennial Congress willtake place in Toronto, Canada from 18-22 June2017 – visit www.midwives2017.org for fulldetails.

FIGO will be involved in the following partnerplenary panels:

FIGO panel: Working to address diverseissues in women’s health: examples fromFIGO’s current work and strategies for ajoined up approach between healthcareproviders Monday 19 June 2017 @ 11:00–12:30Facilitated by the FIGO Chief Executive, JohanVos, this session will provide examples fromFIGO’s work on gestational diabetes, nutrition,violence against women, unsafe abortion andcontraception. Our presenters will describe thework, the specific relevance to midwives, andoffer suggestions on howobstetricians/gynecologists and midwives canwork closer together to make greater progresstowards our shared goal of improving women’shealth.

Ipas-WHO-FIGO panel: Emerging evidencefor improving midwifery care through the lifecourse: quality and access of contraceptionand abortion interventions to save women’slives Monday 19 June 2017 @ 14:00–15:30This panel will review key recommendations onthree key topics from recent WHO guidancerelated to pre-pregnancy: ensuring human rightsin contraceptive care, expanding health workerroles in abortion and post-abortioncontraception, and eligibility criteria and practicerecommendations for contraceptive care.Presenters will cover practical information toimprove pre-pregnancy care and help midwives

provide the full range of essential competenciesin midwifery practice.

FIGO-Gynuity panel: New technologies andmodels for facilitating timely management ofpostpartum haemorrhage (PPH) at all levels ofcare Tuesday 20 June 2017 @ 14:00–15:30Facilitated by Gynuity Health Projects’ PresidentBeverly Winikoff, this session showcases newtechnologies and innovative models of PPH carewith relevance to all settings, but particularlylower levels of the healthcare systems wheretreatment options are few. Findings from recentcommunity-based studies evaluating models ofPPH management with misoprostol inAfghanistan, Egypt, India and Pakistan will bediscussed, along with new research on condomuterine-balloon tamponade. The utility of currentPPH definitions and the potential for alternativesto blood loss in diagnosis, such as shock index,will also be discussed.

Gynuity Health Projects’ panel: Globalmodels, new evidence and recommendationssupporting the critical role of midwives andother health providers in improving access toabortion care Wednesday 21 June 2017 @11:00–12:30 This session highlights regionalmodels and lessons learned from around theworld, demonstrating the key role of midwivesand other health providers in expanding accessto safe abortion, including menstrual regulationand postabortion care. These regionalinnovations provide important examples of howprogrammes can move towards implementingnew WHO guidelines that recommend expandedhealth worker roles for safe abortion care.

Information courtesy of Jessica Morris, FIGOProject Manager

EVENTS AND RESOURCES

FIGO accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the external event information. Inclusion of any event does notnecessarily mean that FIGO either endorses or supports it (unless otherwise stated)

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